Crackdown Reveals Robust Gambling In Prisons

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2018-06-11 HKT 13:37

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  A betting slip displayed by prison officials at a media briefing. Photo: RTHK

The Correctional Services Department said on Monday that it has unearthed gambling activity inside prisons with bets involving items worth more than HK$1 million in total.

This came as officers stepped up searches in prisons ahead of the football World Cup, a time when gambling activities spike.

The department said it had conducted more than 3,000 prison searches between January and May and found 45 inmates were taking part in gambling or possessed gambling-related items.

They said the betting mainly involved cigarettes and was worth a total of HK$1.3 million.

Senior Superintendent Anthony Pang said action had been taken against all the prisoners involved.

He said a crackdown ahead of the 2014 World Cup had found similar activity that involved items which were valued around HK$1 million.

But despite the rise of over HK$300,000 this year, Pang said there was no sign that gambling has become more serious compared to four years ago.